Mechanical Engineering In Vogue Again?

Q: What do you think? Is mechanical engineering back in vogue again now that the DOT COM sector got all screwed up? I am thinking that pure mechanical engineering should look suddenly attractive to future engineering students. I guess several years ago, you ask anyone what they want to study and it would be something that will help them get into the .com job. It turned into a .bomb however in the last year and a half. What do you all think? is mechanical engineering going to become a good field to be in going forward? I think mechanical engineers is still underpaid though. Ever notice them employment notice? "We need mechanical engineer with 5-10 years experience ... blah ... blah.... Salary: $45000 - $60000 depends on experience". On the other hand "We need people with .com skills: blah blah blah... Salary: $80000, education requirements? 6 months in Devry institutes". Get rich quick anyone?

A: -Well all I know is that I don't want a ME who got into the field because he thought it was in vogue building any airplane that I fly on.... I got into it because I enjoy solving problems and I think I'm good at it..I couldn't care less whether it's in vogue or not. -Around here (Graz in Austria, with fairly high stress on automotive industry supply and consulting,

mainly for german car makers) mechanical engineers were high in demand the last few years. There were times when every graduate had about 5 future employers wanting him/her. Magna Europe's (a big player around here) boss told us once at a presentation, that car makers should stop treating engineers as bad as they do (bad salary, bad job security). Was very nice to hear Our salaries are lower than yours (but as we have insurance/health care etc. included, that does not say much), but about the same, or maybe just a little lower than for the computer guys. Unfortunately recession looms (at least in Germany, so also for us), so employers are not sooo nice anymore.